Doug

Marrone

Marrone sat out the 2024 season after spending 2022 and 2023 as the Saints’ offensive line coach. Regarded by many as one of the top offensive line coaches in the sport, Marrone will have his work cut out for him as he aims to improve a Patriots line that was graded as the second-worst pass-blocking unit and worst run-blocking unit in the league, per PFF. Marrone makes for another solid addition to a Patriots staff that also recently added offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who helped lead the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles in his previous two stints.

The sources that told Duncan this also noted that Carmichael requested the transition and declined an opportunity to interview for the head coaching position. It’s hard to know what to make of that as an outsider, but Carmichael has had a resume that’s been screaming for someone to give him a shot as a head coach for several seasons now. Ex-Jaguars HC Doug Marrone and ex-Jets OC John Morton are being considered as additions to the Saints offensive staff under new HC Dennis Allen.

Marrone served as Alabama’s offensive line coach in 2021, following his departure from the Jaguars after the 2020 season. Marrone has had a turbulent coaching career. After butting heads with Buffalo brass he infamously opted out of his Bills head coaching contract after the 2014 season. This was an epic miscalculation that left Marrone settling for a job as the Jaguars offensive line coach in 2015. Marrone reemerged as a head coach when Gus Bradley was fired during the 2016 season and Marrone was named interim coach. He was then retained for four full seasons. Marrone managed to coax 10 wins out of Blake Bortles in 2017, although he closed his Jaguars tenure with a miserable 1-15 season. Marrone has yet to be paired with strong quarterback play in the NFL, coaching EJ Manuel, Kyle Orton, Bortles, and Gardner Minshew. Unfortunately, he is likely to be dealing with subpar quarterback play in 2022 as well.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan thanked Marrone for his service in a Monday morning statement. The team never found an answer at quarterback during Marrone’s four-year run, muddling through the Blake Bortles era before landing on Gardner Minshew, who proved not to be a starting-caliber NFL quarterback. Marrone’s tenure started out well enough, with the Jags making the playoffs in 2017 for the first time in a decade and advancing to the AFC title game before losing to the Patriots. Urban Meyer is reportedly in the running to become the team’s next head coach. The Jaguars have the first pick in this year’s NFL Draft and $100 million in salary cap space.

Marrone is likely to be a victim on Black Monday after what likely will be a 1-15 season. Despite the record, the Jaguars head coaching job is one of the best available given the Jaguars’ massive cap space and first overall pick. Meyer would be an exciting hire for all involved. His offenses at Ohio State were electric, and his coaching connections are as good as anyone’s. Rapoport reports Meyer is telling his network of friends and coaches that he “expects to land” in Jacksonville. If Meyer ultimately stays retired, Rapoport reports current Ohio State coach Ryan Day is a “potential target”. The debate between Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields would be turned up if Meyer or Day lands the job.

“I’m going to look at some things, I want to go a little outside the box. I’m going to go after it and however it falls, it falls, but it’s open for me. I’ve done crazy [stuff] before.” ESPN’s Michael DiRocco believes benching Gardner Minshew “certainly could be on the table.” The Jaguars are winless in six straight games and looking for a second-half spark. They may be tempted to see what they have in sixth-round QB Jake Luton — who had a 28:3 TD/INT ratio in the Pac-12 last year. Minshew avoided an in-game benching in Week 7, but Luton could potentially start after Jacksonville’s bye.

Jacksonville had a player on their practice squad test return a positive test. They were forced to place 12 of their 16 practice players on the Practice Squad/COVID-19 list because of their proximity to the player who tested positive. Any positive tests from active roster players could have put their Week 6 match versus the Lions in jeopardy. The Jaguars avoided that calamity and will play Detroit as scheduled.

The Jaguars closed their facility and are holding virtual meetings. It’s the first positive test for the Jaguars since RB Ryquell Armstead was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in September. Jacksonville’s Week 6 game against the Lions remains on as scheduled.

The two corners that King is referencing are Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah and Florida CB C.J. Henderson. Obviously the Jaguars need more help than ever at the CB position after shipping Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye to the Rams and Broncos, respectively. Alas, it remains to be seen if the Jaguars will be willing to part with another high-round pick in order to get their man.

“While our discussions will remain confidential, the decision I am making to keep our staff intact for 2020 has nothing to do with our victory on Sunday and everything to do with my positive meetings with [GM Dave Caldwell], Doug, the coordinators and our players, as well as my belief that this is not the time to consider an overhaul of our organization,” owner Shad Khan released in a statement. Khan also made it clear the organization would not be filling Tom Coughlin’s previous role of Executive Vice President of Football Operations. It’s an impossible sell considering Marrone has spared Jacksonville’s fanbase to an 11-21 record over the last two seasons while Caldwell has outright bumbled multiple early-round selections. Any cheers for this team may have to wait until they touch down in London next year.